Method of making radiators



Mar. 3, 1925. 1,528,496

E- B. LENNIG METHOD OF MAKING RADIATORS Original Filed Aug 25, 1922INVENTOR:

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ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES EDMUND B. LENNIG, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORTO ELECTRIC RADI- A'IOR c ENGINEERING 00., INCL, OF SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF MAKING RADIATORS.

Original application filed August 25, 18-22, Serial No. 584,176. Dividedand this application filed September *7, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND B. LENNIG, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,have invented a new and useful Method of Making Radiators, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to electrically heated radiators, and moreespecially to a novel method of making an electric heater for radiatorsand the like, and is disclosed by and constitutes a division of my priorapplication for a patent for electric radiator, filed August 25, 1922,under Serial No. 584,- 176.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a novel method ofmaking radiators and more especially electric radiators whereby a.maximum amount of heat with a mini mum amount or consumption of electriccurrent is obtained, while at the same time providing means toauton'iatically store heat or to provide latent heat.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel method of makingelectrical radiators whereby a portable radiator is produced havingelectrical resistance or heating coils or units adapted to be connectedby means of a plug connection having a lead, or otherwise, with a socketor other connection to the wiring of a house or building for heatingpurposes and which obviates the necessity of employing a furnace orcentral heating plant, pipes, fines or chimneys and the wastes due toradiation while the heating medium is in transit to and from the placeof use or various rooms to be heated.

Another object of the invention is to devise an electric radiator inwhich a storage of heat or latent heat is obtained by means of clayproducts such as marbles or the like.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter moreclearly appear in the detailed description of my invention.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings certain forms thereof which are at presentpreferred by me, since the same will give in practice satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be imder- Serial No. 681,435.

stood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consistsmay be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is notlimited to the precise arrangement and organization of theseinstrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure i represents a vertical section of an electric radiator embodyingmy invention.

Figure 2 represents on enlarged scale a lon itudinal sectional view,partly in elevation, of one of the heating elements.

Figure 3 represents a section on line 3 8 Figure 2.

Figure represents an end view of Figure 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings l designates my novel construction of electricradiator, the same comprising the radiator sections 2, which are ofsubstantially the same construction and are held in assembled positionby the upper threaded nipples 3, and the lower enlarged threaded ipples4, whereby an enlarged transverse lower chamber 5 is formed for thereception of the unit comprising the heating coil holders 6 and theiradjuncts.

Each of said holders comprises an outer tubular casing or brass tubing7, closed at one end, as indicated at 8, and open at the other end.Within each tubing or casing 7 is inserted the hollow or tubularinsulating casing 9, within which is contained the-core or insulation10, about which latter is wound the heating coil 11, the latter beingcontained between the insulating elements 9 and 10 and its outerterminals 12 and 13 projecting as shown in Fig. 2, so as to enable thedesired electrical connections to be made. As the construction andmanner of assembling each of the heating coils with respect to theirinsulating core and casing is the same, a description of one willsuffice for all. The core 10 is provided with the head 9*, see Figure 2,and, as will be seen from the left of Figure 1, the head 9* projects ashort distance beyond the tubing 7 and passes through a hole in aninsulating disc or plate 14:, in proximity to which is an outerinsulating plate or dis 15 upon which the various electrical connectionsand binding posts are supported so as to be readily accessible, as Wlllbe understood from Figure 1.

The left hand ends of the plurality of outer casings 0r tubings 7, whichconstitute the enclosures for the heating elements are secured or brazedin the outer wall 16 of the head 17, which is mounted inthe outer lowerportion of the left hand radiator section 17*, as will be understoodfrom Figure 1, the inner or right hand portion of said head being ofreduced diameter and threaded, as indicated at 18, so as to engage thelower contiguous portions of the outer left,- hand radiator sections soas to couple them together and form a seal to prevent liquid enteringthe left-hand radiator section 17, seen in Figure 1, a tight joint beingeffected by means of the gasket 16*.

I have shown the tubes 7 containing the heating coils and their adjunctsas being preferably six in number and by assembling them in thedetachable head 17, the tubes and head and the heating coils within saidtubes can be withdrawn and replaced as a unit, .as will be understoodfrom Figure 1, so. that anytube and its heating coil is readily andinstantly accessible for the purposes of inspection, replacement'orrepair, as will be understood from Figure 1. The threaded portion 18serves to couple the two righthand end sections together and theshoulder and gasket 16 seen at the lower left-hand portion of Figure 1form an effective seal to prevent leakage into the left hand radiatorsection 17*, which contains the thermostat and the wires leadingthereto, to be referred to. The current is conducted into the radiatorthrough the wires 19 and 20, which are suitably insulated, said wirespassing through the hole 21 of the outer cap 22 secured to the outercasing 23, so that upon the removal of said cap immediate access is hadto all the wiring connections.

A suitable switch may be provided in the wires 19 and 20 from which onewire leads to the member 24 of a thermostat 25 while the other wireleads to a binding post of the plate 15 from which a wire correspondingto the wire 12 leads to one of the heating coils 11.

The thermostatic member 25 is located at the, upper left hand portion ofthe radiator section 17 as seen in Figure 1, and as the same ispreferably constructed in conformity to the thermostat seen in my priorPatent No. 1,391,239, granted September 20, 1921, the construction andoperation of the same need not be described in great detail, as themanner of making the wiring connections will be readily apparent from mypatent aforesaid, wherein I have shown the collocation of the sixheating coils and the wiring connections therefrom to'the outerinsulating disc 15 and to the bottom member 2 1 of the thermostat 25;

26 designates a head having the threaded extension27 which forms acoupling connection for the upper left hand portions of the two lefthandradiator sections, as will be understocd from Figure 1, said head havingthe air tube or tubing 28 secured therein, the opposite end of saidtubing being closed as indicated at 29 said tubing serving as an airtube and said upper head 26, together with the lower head 17, serving asa closure to keep liquid out of the left hand radiator section 17*,which is thus isolated from the other radiator sections, as will beunderstood from Figure 1. The air tube 28 is of less diameter than thenipples 3 as will beunderstood from Figure 1, so that the circulation ofthe liquid through the upper portion of the radiator is not impeded.

The outer or left hand end of the air tube 26 is constructed as seen inFigure 1, so that by the application of a suitable wrench the tube canbe screwed into place.

The radiator sections, with the exception of the left hand section 1seen in Figure 1, are filled with a suitable heating medium, such asoil, as indicated at 80, and each radiator section is also filled withclay spheres or marbles, as indicated at 31, contained within theradiator columns 32.

In equippin my novel radiator for the market, the parts are firstassembled substantially as seen in Figure 1, with the oil orliquidheating element 30 supplied thereto and clay marbles 31 constitutingrefractory bodies. Before scaling up the openings, the electrical energyis turned into the coils and the liquid allowed to heat to a greatertemperature with all of the coils in active use than under actualworking conditions. As the heat increases in the radiator, the liquidexpands and the excess of the liquid and air is allowed to drain orescape fromthe radiator. lVhen the excess temperature, say 250.clegreesFahr. has been reachedin testing the radiator, it is then sealed andallowed to cool. The liquid, in cooling, shrinks to its normal density,thus creating an empty space or vacuum in the radiator. I

Thus, when the radiator is not in operation, it is under vacuum and whenthe radiator is in actual working use, the liquid does not create apressure. The function of the vacuum is to enable the oil or otherheating liquid elementemployed to circulate more freely and it willheat, as is known, more readily under vacuum than under pressure,whereby I amenabled to effect a considerabl saving of electrical energy.

It will be apparent that by the employment of the clay products ormarbles, 31,

these marbles, being round, do not entirely tions, but leave enoughspace for the liquid and in heating the liquid, ample space is assuredfor the circulation.

The function of these clay marbles is, first, to reduce the quantity ofoil that it would take to fill the hollow radiator columns, there beingpresent a smaller quantity or liquid to heat, consequently it takes lesselectrical energy to bring the temperature of the heating element to thepredetermined heat, thereby effecting a saving in the cost of operation;second, it takes less electrical energy to keep a small amount of liquidat a predetermined temperature than it does a larger quantity, thuseliect ing a saving in the cost of operation; third, the clay productsor marbles create a latent or storage heat, whereby I obtain without anyadditional expense, a saving of electrical energy and also acquire anadditional amount of heat without any additional cost, when theelectrical energy is turned off.

WVhen the electrical energj is turned into the coils, the liquid heatsto the pre-determined temperature and the marbles also absorb heat tothe same temperature of the liquid, then when the electrical energy isturned off, if it were not for the marbles, this body of liquid wouldcool quickly.

The action on the temperature of the space heated is as follows Thecirculation of air around the radiator draws off the heat from the castiron radiator and in doingthis naturally cools the temperature of theliquid and due to the fact that we have present an inner col umn ofmarbles or clay products, this liquid is supplied with additional heat,which under ordinary conditions does not occur.

I have found by actual tests, that when the radiator is filled with oilonly, it takes nearly one hour to heat up and 25 minutes to cool down tothe temperature of the space heated. hen the marbles are also placed inthe hollow columns of the radiator, it only takes 23 minutes to bringthe radiator to the same temperature and one hour to cool down to thetemperature of the room.

Special attention is called to the fact that by the provision of theenlarged bottom chamber 5, I am enabled to employ larger tubes 7 to holdthe cores 10 and their heating coils 11, thus increasing the heatingsurface of the coil holders which come in contact with the liquid,because it is well known that the larger the heating surface that comesin contact with any volume of liquid, a greater economy is attained inthe heating of said volume of liquid.

From my novel construction of coil holder, it will be evident that anyone or more of the coils 11 can be replaced without a total loss of theentire heating unit or element and one or more of the coils can bereadily detached for inspection, replacement or re pair, which is a veryimportant feature affecting the practical cost of maintenance.

It will be understood from the foregoing that by my present invention, Ihave deyised an electric radiator adapted to contain a suitable liquidwhich is subjected to the action of a heating unit comprising aplurality of heating coils and that by using a clay product inconjunction with liquid used a storage of heat or latent heat isobtained.

These coils are so arranged as to be energized and (lG-GllQIgiZQCl stepby step by individual thermostats controlled by the temperature of theliquid and adjusted to be cut out at different degrees of temperature,so that the radiator can be accurately and automatically controlledwithin predetermined ranges of temperature and will be automaticallycontrolled in such a manner that any predetermined temperature can bemaintained with a minimum consumption of electric current.

The upper portion of the left-hand radiator section 17 is provided witha suitable detachable case 33 provided with a front cover 34 so that onthe removal of said case the thermostat 25 is readily accessible and onthe removal of the left-hand radia' tor section 17*, the air tube 28 isreadily accessible.

Upon the removal of the outer cap or bottom plate 22, the head 17 andtubes 7, comprising the heating unit 6 are readily accessible, as isevident, so that all the parts of my novel radiator are convenient ofaccess at all times.

It will be further understood from the foregoing that I have devised anelectrical radiator adapted to contain a suitable liquid, which issubjected to the action of a heating unit comprising a plurality ofheating coils, which are arranged to be energized and de-energized stepby step by individual thermostats controlled by the temperature of theliquid and adjusted to be cut out at different degrees of temperature sothat the radiator can be accurately and automatically controlled withinpredetermined ranges of temperature and will be automatically controlledin such manner that any predetermined temperature can be maintained witha minimum consumption of electrical current.

The field of usefulness of this heating system is very large and it canbe installed wherever an electric service line is available. In a housecontaining small apartments, one in each apartment will be suiiicient.This system renders it unnecessary to employ heaters in the basement andto employ pip ing in the basement and through the walls and under thefloors of the building. There is nothing to freeze up or leak. It isabsolutely noiseless in action. Flues or vents are not needed. employinga janitor. or engineer and the consumption of fuel, wood, oil or gas aredispensed with, as well as the attendant dirt and dust from suchoperation. It is available for immediate use at any time of the year andat any time of the day or night. It .is optional Withevery occupant ofthe housein every separate room to have heat or be without it as hedesires. tenant pays for what he gets and no more. The owner is relievedfrom any annoyance or expense. These are a few of the advantages in anappartment house, and. these advantages apply also to any habitation ofman. 1

It can be installed ,in atent, a camp, a bunkhouse in the woods, on a.ship, in the basement or attic, in the depths of a mine or tunnel, in apalace or a hovel, in a bungalow, a cottage, a farmhouse a summer campin the mountains, .a garage, a barn, a store or oflice, and other placestoo numerous to mention in detail. The radiator is portable and can beplugged. in any light socket and it can be manually transported and usedby the owner wherever the occasion requires.

The cost of operation is about twentyfive watts per hour to each squarefoot of radiation, and in this climate the cost. to heat an ordinarysized room or small apartment. would be about one cent per hour when thek. w. 11. rate does not exceed one cent.

To state the matter in another way, when the service rate is two centsper 1:. w. h..it will cost approximately about one twentieth of a centper hour for a foot of radiation to maintain a temperature of 180. Ifthe climate is severe, it takes more feet of radia- The expensesincident to Each tion for the radiator, and the milder the cimate, thesmaller will be the amount of radiating surface to warm a given space.

While I have referred to the liquid heat-i ing element as beingpreferably oil and to the spherical heating elements as belng claymarbles', it will be apparent that other.

equivalent liquid and solid heating elements may be employed withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

It will now be apparent that I have de-. vised a novel and usefulelectric radiator which embodies the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of they invention and the above description,and

while I have in the present instance, shown I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, 'is- The method of making an electricradiator which consists in assembling the ra diator sections, fillingthem with a liquid heating element and with refractory bodies,electrically heatingsaid liquid and bodies before sealing to a higherdegree than would be obtained in actual use, and lastly sealing theradiator when the excess temperature has been reached, thereby creatinga vacuum when the'heating elements cool.

' EDMUND B. LENNIG.

Witnesses W. R. CAsrAonE'rH, J. F. DUNWORTH.

